Madeleine McGraw on Growing Up, Glowing Up, and The Black Phone 2
- Brielle Flavin
- Oct 13
- 13 min read
It was 1 o’clock on a Friday in September when Madeleine and I hopped on a video call and met for the first time.
Maddy is certifiably Gen Z: She loves 90s rom-coms, music that’s twice as old as she is, plowing down her opponents on the soccer field, breaking down barriers everywhere she goes, and is making her dreams her reality. The actor has quickly become someone to watch by learning avidly from industry veterans, finding her own voice, and staying true to who she is off-screen. For our cover, Madeleine transformed into a different version of herself yet again, a young professional taking center stage, and shaping the future of the industry into what she believes it can be.
Best known for her role as Gwen in The Black Phone series, she already has an extensive resume at only 16. On October 17, audiences will be able to see Madeleine’s reprisal of Gwen in The Black Phone 2. Exploring her career so far, and what is to come in the future, we sat down and broke down who Madeleine is on and off the screen, and how she intends to carve her own legacy.
Madeleine McGraw on Acting, Growth, and Finding Her Voice in Hollywood
Brielle Flavin: What was your absolute favorite part of working on The Black Phone series?
Madeleine McGraw: That I get to show a range of emotions! Sadness, anger, spite, happiness. That's one of my favorite things about working in horror. Also, I love Gwen so much; I feel like I can relate to her in a lot of ways, so getting to play a character that I care so deeply about is awesome.
BF: That's awesome! Being described as a “rare exceptional talent” and winning CinemaCon “Rising Star of 2025” can be exhilarating, but it can also be potentially nerve-wracking. Although you have worked on many high-profile projects previously, Gwen was really the character that made you stand out as an actress. How do you deal with an increase in pressure to perform following the press from The Black Phone? And in that same vein, what part of your work has changed the most since then?
MM: I feel pressure a lot of the time, but I don't think about people thinking of me in that way, because I really am just doing what I love. As long as I’m enjoying it and making a positive impact on the world, you know? When people see projects that I'm in, I hope they inspire them in the right ways. And I feel like I learn a lot when it comes to playing every character that I've gotten to play. Gwen has taught me a lot as well. I feel that as long as I just keep growing and continue to stay humble, grounded, and grateful, that's really all I can do.
BF: You've voiced Bonnie in Toy Story 4, been in Marvel's Ant-Man and The Wasp, and, of course, The Black Phone. What connects these experiences for you, and has your whole career trajectory shaped your identity as Gwen? Or, did you have to reach a totally different space to become her?
MM: That's a really good question! No one's ever asked me that before. All the characters that I've played have been really, really different. When I read the character description for Gwen, and when I read the audition sides when I first got them, I was so excited because I instantly fell in love with her. I've never gotten to play a character that I could relate to in so many ways. The biggest aspect in which I can relate to her is her love for her brother, and her will to fight for the people that she loves and cares about. Just getting to play her was so, so exhilarating! I honestly do think it was much harder to play her the second time around.
Finding her again was a bit more difficult than it was sinking into her the first time. I feel like it's because the second Black Phone takes place a few years later. She's grown up, I've grown up as well, but I feel we've both grown up in different ways. I had a lot of conversations with Scott Derrickson, our director. I would call him and be like, “Scott, I'm not gonna lie. I am feeling nervous.” He helped me get through the entire thing, and I definitely found her before filming.
BF: What's one thing that you have learned from working with long-time Hollywood actors like Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, and of course, Ethan Hawk?
MM: I have learned so much from everyone. Seriously, even just watching them is so inspiring. I think the thing that I've taken away from every single one of them is to be kind to everyone. No matter who you are, always stay kind, stay humble. Everyone that you're working with, because our world is so small in general. Just one bad experience with someone, and I don't know…it's unfortunate when that happens, but seriously, just be kind to everyone and continue to give 100% the entire time.
BF: That's actually really lovely. Seeing how you present yourself within the industry as a whole, it's very clear that you do walk around with this sense of kindness towards everyone that you work with. That quality really shines through, especially considering how your career is unfolding! With The Black Phone 2 premiering and your career momentum building, what types of roles or projects do you dream about pursuing next?
MM: I mean, whatever comes my way, really! I feel like I would love to portray more coming-of-age stories, and hopefully, stories that deal with important topics like mental health. That’s something I would love to make more people aware of. Maybe some sort of action role, those are always fun, and I feel like I’ve never gotten to really dive deep into that.
BF: I know you had talked a couple of times about doing stunts, so the action does make a lot of sense in that regard.
MM: Yes, that is my dream!
BF: Audiences raved about Gwen in The Black Phone. How do you approach stepping back into her shoes for The Black Phone 2, and what new layers of her story challenged you the most?
MM: I’m not going to lie, I was very scared to play her again. Very, very scared. I was very proud of the work that I did in the first film, but this second film…I can’t really say much about the topics that she deals with in it, but she goes through a lot. The things that she goes through in the second film are much different than anything that she had to deal with in the first one, so of course, those specific challenges were so, so nerve-racking to go into portraying on screen. But I’ve gotten to see some scenes and I’m very proud!
BF: It’s always a great moment when you get to be proud of work that you’ve done, absolutely. Your chemistry with Mason (who played Finny) was widely praised by critics and fans. How has your relationship with your costars evolved in the sequel, and how do you think that shows on screen?
MM: I think what helped a lot this time around is that we weren’t in COVID. In the first film, Mason and I barely got to hang out, ever. So I was surprised that critics felt so strongly about our chemistry on screen. It was nice this time around because I got to hang out with the whole cast off set the entire time, and on set, we all worked together. It was awesome, and I feel like you can really see that chemistry on screen this time around. I feel like it’s definitely much stronger in the second film, just because we actually got to hang out with each other.
BF: Yeah, I did a few projects like that during the COVID era, so I understand that completely. The inability to interact as much…
You’ve already begun to expand your voice in the industry by stepping into the role of executive producer. What has this experience revealed to you about the creative process and how has it shaped your approach to acting? Looking ahead to projects like SuperUnknown, which you are executive producing, what challenges have most defined that transition, and what have you learned about your own place in storytelling, sort of stepping into roles beyond acting?
MM: Getting to be an executive producer, especially as a young woman in this industry, has definitely given me more confidence to speak up about things. I feel like it’s given me a bit more control, and people take me more seriously.
I feel like I also have a lot of female role models in my life that are executive producers, writers, directors, and they are people that I really, really look up to and want to be like when I’m older. I feel like just getting to step into the side of things that they are on felt like an achievement, or a step towards that direction. It’s definitely given me a lot more confidence going into roles, because I feel like I do have a lot more say in things, which is awesome.
I would hope to pursue more executive producing, and in the future, my dream would be to direct something. I feel like I’ve learned so much already from being an executive producer and have learned so much behind the camera, and I would love to continue pursuing that.
BF: Leading into that sort of maturity that leadership roles require, you’ve been praised for your emotional depth on screen at just sixteen. What do you draw from personally to access these emotions?
MM: This is a question that I find interesting, because I really do just become my characters. I wouldn’t call myself method, at least not yet. I have some things that I do to get into character, but when I’m on set, I really do just flip that switch. I become the character. I have the mindset of my character.
Before going into filming, I think of my characters' backstories, different things they might have been doing. Little things like what they would have for lunch. I just dive into the characters that I’m playing and think of every little thing that they would like to do for fun, what music they listen to. Another thing I do is I create playlists for my characters, which definitely helps. Seriously! Music is my favorite thing ever, so it definitely helps me get into character or create different storylines that my character would be going through. I really do become the character.
BF: What would you say is your favorite song that was on your playlist for Gwen?
MM: Let me show you! It was probably this song, “Right Down the Line,” but let me look. Let me go to my Gwen playlist. It’s seriously so fun, even sometimes when I get callbacks or auditions, I create a playlist for them. I feel like you learn so much about your characters that way.
BF: I do the same thing; every time I need to get ready for something, it’s a certain playlist to get me in a mindset!
MM: And I like to stay in their time! So for Gwen, it’s the '80s and before, so I’ll only add songs from that time period. Honestly, it would probably be “Right Down the Line” by Gerry Rafferty. That’s the song I was playing the most, to be honest.
BF: I love that you do that, that’s so fun.
MM: It’s so fun, but it also definitely helps with emotional scenes, too. Whenever I have to do an emotional scene, music is what gets me in that headspace. It’s very important to me. When I have an emotional day on set, you’ll see me; I’ll just have my headphones on the entire day.
BF: Moving a little bit away from the music, but we will circle back to that later! We live in an online world, and as a young actress, how do you think social media has helped or hindered your relationship with your fans?
MM: There are definitely pros and cons. The pros are that you get to connect with them, which is so much fun. And you get to talk with them sometimes, and see how much they love what you're doing! It really means a lot, I love that what I’m doing is impacting them in such a positive way. However, I definitely would say there are some cons. In the beginning, when The Black Phone first came out, I was a lot younger, but I would still go through comments.
I feel like sometimes you see a negative comment, and we’re all human, so seeing that isn’t the nicest thing. I feel like I would get wrapped up in the negative side of things, which wasn’t good for my mental health. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve definitely gotten a lot better at not looking at the negative things. I don’t really pay attention to them anymore, if at all. Social media is very easy to get wrapped up in, so staying away from it is healthier.
Something that I preach a lot is focus on your peace. If you need to take a break from something or someone to keep that peace of mind, just do it.
BF: It seems like you practice what you preach! Outside of acting, you’re an avid soccer player. How do you think that soccer and your passions in general, beyond acting, shape your approach? How do they balance your personal life and work? In what ways do they keep you grounded, but also potentially enhance what you bring to the screen?
MM: Oh my gosh, so many ways. Soccer has taught me so many things, in life and in acting. One thing about soccer is that it’s so nice that I’m on a team, and we all have each other's backs on the field. My teammates care about my acting, but they also don’t talk about it too much. I can separate my acting and my soccer life. Also, it’s taught me not to give energy to people who are praying on your downfall or antagonizing you. It’s taught me to have a stronger mindset. There will be girls on the soccer field saying things or trying to get me to say something back.
BF: The little whispers.
MM: Exactly, I’m so focused on the game, I don’t have the energy to say anything back to them. I just let it roll off my back. I have a goal, I’m trying to win the game, so I’m focused on scoring, working with my teammates, and just doing what I love! Such a good example of how I think of my acting career, and I think it could relate so much to acting in general, and this industry.
Some people try and tear you down, and there are so many people talking, especially on social media, so just letting it roll off your back, even though sometimes it might be harder, is the most important thing. Focus on yourself, put all your energy into what you’re doing and what you love, and just keep pursuing it no matter what.
BF: As you grow into this new chapter in your life, how are you defining success? Beyond box office numbers, press, or awards. Just for yourself.
MM: Getting to do this all with my family feels like success. We’re very family-oriented over here. I know they will always have my back, no matter what. I can always go to them for anything. The people you can truly trust 1000% and never second-guess yourself with. So knowing my family is happy and healthy is definitely what I would say is the thing that most defines success in my life.
BF: I understand that my sister and I do everything together.
MM: My sister and I do everything together. She’s my Day 1.
BF: So is mine, she’s sitting right over there!
MM: So is mine! She’s on the other side of the room right now!
BF: Girls gotta stick with girls.
The cover story is about an emerging creative reclaiming the workplace. When you look at Hollywood’s history, what parts of that legacy feel important to honor, and what do you feel ready to reinvent as part of the new generation?
MM: A part of the industry that I would love to honor is strong women. Especially in action movies, I feel like we are starting to see more female-led action films, but I feel like that is very rare to see, or it is something that we lack. I would love to be someone that girls look up to in that way. Strong women are so important.
When I was younger, and even now, watching Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, or even Atomic Blonde. It’s just so inspiring to see how these women conquer the industry. I would love to be a part of that for sure.
BF: Sort of honoring them, but also reinventing that part of the industry for yourself!
MM: Exactly.
Rapid Fire with Maddy: Favorites, Dreams, and Guilty Pleasures!
BF: Now we have rapid-fire questions!!
MM: Yes, I love rapid-fire questions!
BF: Favorite Fleetwood Mac Song.
MM: Oh my gosh! Rhiannon. Or Dreams.
BF: If you could only watch 1 of your top 4 favorite movies (Almost Famous, Baby Driver, 12 Angry Men, or Whiplash), which would it be?
MM: Oh my god, you know them!
BF: Which would you choose?
MM: Probably…that’s so hard! Probably Whiplash. Maybe? Or Almost Famous. That’s so hard!
BF: Some of those are also in my top favorites, and I’m the worst person to ask about favorite anything.
MM: I’m so indecisive, I can never choose.
BF: I’m good at giving 3 to 5, not 1. This one might be easier: favorite movie snack.
MM: Oh, Twix. Twix is my only candy that I really love.
BF: You answered this before, but if you could pick a song to describe Gwen, which would it be?
MM: “O-o-h Child” by The Five Stairsteps was the song I feel defines Gwen. She and her mom would have listened to this song together. I feel like this song speaks to Gwen’s tenacity and determination, and a song her mom would have instilled in her, knowing they shared this blessing and curse.)
BF: If you could play a '90s/2000s character in a remake, who would it be?
MM: 10 Things I Hate About You! Easily! That would be a dream role.
BF: My sister and I were talking about that movie last night!
MM: It’s one of my favorite movies, I love it. That’s a movie that I rewatch constantly.
BF: Me too. Who is your favorite Scream Queen?
MM: That’s a good question. Really hard. Mia Goth is up there. Her scream is so powerful. Honestly, let’s go with Mia Goth. Her scenes are so impactful; it’s very impressive.
BF: If you had to pick one. Pre-production, production, or post-production.
MM: Oh, that’s hard. Probably production. It’s the thing I get to do the most of. You’re in the middle of creating things, and the juices are flowing. Everything else is much more stressful.
BF: This question has a super-easy answer. What movie should everyone be going to see in theaters this October?
MM: Oh…maybe Black Phone 2? Definitely Black Phone 2!
Photo Credits
Production Lead: Adar
Creative Direction: Kendall Flavin
Photography: Lenne Chai
First Assistant: Chir Yan Lim
Second Assistant: Nico Vargas
Wardrobe Styling: Veronica Graye
Makeup: Robert Bryan
Hair Styling: Matthew Collins
Set Assistance: Nathan Molina
PR: Advantage PR
BTS and Content Lead: Sally Chow
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